Posted on 11/08/2007 5:52:42 AM PST by Reaganesque
I was listening to the radio this morning when I heard of a bill that has been proposed in the Maryland Legislature. House Bill 30 states:
From the summary:
From the bill itself:
(C) (1) THE BALANCE REMAINING ON A GIFT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE PRESUMED TO BE ABANDONED ON THE LATER OF:
(I) THE DATE THAT IS 4 YEARS AFTER THE DATE THE GIFT CERTIFICATE IS PURCHASED; OR
(II) THE DATE THAT IS 1 YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF THE LAST PURCHASE MADE USING THE GIFT CERTIFICATE.
(2) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 OF EACH YEAR, A PERSON THAT SELLS OR ISSUES GIFT CERTIFICATES IN THE STATE SHALL REMIT TO THE COMPTROLLER THE BALANCE REMAINING ON EACH GIFT CERTIFICATE THAT WAS PRESUMED ABANDONED DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
(3) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1 OF EACH YEAR, THE COMPTROLLER SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE REVENUES RECEIVED UNDER PARAGRAPH
(2) OF THIS SUBSECTION TO THE MARYLAND EDUCATION FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5–201.1 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE.
(Click on "House Bill 30" title at the top of the summary page for the full PDF copy of the bill.)
Hillary said we can't afford all of her ideas. Hey, we can't afford any of her ideas nor those of her fellow Democrat's. We can't allow these people to control our government, locally or nationally. Remember that next November.
Sadly, it was only a matter of time before this “revenue generating idea” popped into someone’s head.
If this gets passed, I bet all gift-certificates will disappear in Maryland.
Talk about onerous record-keeping on the seller’s part. This is a ridiculous, anti-business, bill.
Next, Junior will be fined for not cleaning his plate and Spot will have to file taxes on table scraps.
actually it’s not just junior but also the retailer that loses out. They have to disperse the funds that had been allocated for purchases....what a headache, and I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t cost the retailers additional money to process.
These people disgust me. Wondered when the gov. would be trying to scarf up every crumb out here. Oh, I forgot, they’ve been doing that for some itme now.
This idea is comical, it really is a good reminder that we should try to vote for people that can think an idea at least partially through.
But with the extra money that could be generated if this bill is signed will they produce a better product in the public school? ... no, I thought not.
This is nothing more than thievery. None of your property or assets are yours, they all belong to the state. Another incremental step in Maryland’s rigorous march toward socialism.
And prescriptions you forget to pick up at the drug store. They could give them to the uninsured.
And the loaf of bread you left on counter at the grocery store. More food for the homeless.
And if you lose your keys at the 7-11, they could confiscate your car and give it to a welfare mom.
Oh my gosh, the dry cleaning you forgot to pick up. Wow! They can clothe that welfare mom.
The skateboard your kid left on the sidewalk? Dang! There’s a toy for someone else’s kid.
Wow. The Dems are brilliant! They can solve any problem through legislation.
As it is right now, after a period of time, if you don’t use it, fees start to be deducted monthly. Someone gets the money. I guess they figure, “why not us?”
You’re right in that the State taking unused gift card monies is tantamount to theft. But so is the way the companies use these.
Gift cards are great for the companies and soon, the government, but a big loser for the consumer.
I especially hate how some cards lose value after a certain amount of time passes. Now, that’s theft!
Such a law would violate the United States Constitution.
Art I Section 10: No State shall . . . pass any . . . Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts.
They could start by confiscating that pair of sneakers that have been hanging for the past 12 years from the suspended phone lines over my street...
Democrat tax policy explained as succinctly as I've ever seen it explained.
LOL
I don't want to give them any new ideas but, I just had to post this video.
“This is nothing more than thievery. None of your property or assets are yours, they all belong to the state. Another incremental step in Maryland’s rigorous march toward socialism.”
Good point 3AngelaD. Then there is this from...
http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html#SECTION_G1422
“But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.”
“Then abolish this law without delay, for it is not only an evil itself, but also it is a fertile source for further evils because it invites reprisals. If such a law — which may be an isolated case — is not abolished immediately, it will spread, multiply, and develop into a system.”
Thanks to FReeper raygun for the link.
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